The 2026 Cine Gear Expo Los Angeles @ Universal Studios: New Technology & Products, & Awards!

For the second year in a row: The Awards and the amazing Cine Gear Expo VIP Party that we were invited to, had some great food and drinks, and was held on the iconic movie back-lot of the Back to the Future Movie trilogy: the legendary scenery of Courthouse Square, where you can still see the original CITY HALL and CLOCK on the top: 

where the time is still set to the same time when they went “Back to the Future”: This VIP Party brought together filmmakers, exhibitors, sponsors, and industry professionals for an evening dedicated to the people and stories that inspire our industry. Cine Gear LA 2026 brought together some of the most exciting filmmaking technology we’ve seen this year, from major camera system launches to workflow innovations designed for the realities of modern production, so the 2026 Cine Gear Awards Ceremony honored: Ed Lachman, ASC — with the Cinematography Legend Award, Caleb Deschanel, ASC — with the Legacy Lifetime Award, and M. David Mullen, ASC — with the Karl Kresser Heart of the Community Award. They recognized the winners of the Cine Gear Film Series and provided a unique opportunity to connect with industry leaders and fellow storytellers. Cine Gear continues to be one of the most filmmaker-focused events of the year, and the products recognized here reflect where the industry is actively heading, not just technically, but creatively and operationally as well. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners for developing tools that genuinely stood out on the show floor and demonstrated real value for filmmakers working today. 

We were able to walk around on the New York Avenues, and visit all the booths and exhibits. There were lots of films to see, such as the Independent Short Films: DEBBIE WALKS HER DUCK, FLESH & BLOOD, IMAGO, SHE IS GUILTY, SUPER HUMAN ANXIETY, and THE PEARL COMB. Music Videos: 1.21 GIGAWATTS (No More Kings), BRAINDEAD (Papa Roach), DODGING BULLETS (Myah), LA VITA DANZA (Bloom), LONLEY LIFE (Codefendants). Student Short Films: ARE YOU A FRIEND OF DOROTHY?, BUKRA, CHANGING ROOM, EL ALMA DE LA SED, THE JOKE’S ON HIM, and THE WITCH PRICKER & THE HARE.

This year the big Cine Gear EXPO theatrical Movie Premier was: “I Love Boosters” that is about when professional shoplifters embark on a wild adventure as they target a cutthroat fashion mogul. I Love Boosters is a 2026 American absurdist crime comedy film written and directed by Boots Riley. Following the adventures of a group of shoplifters, it features an ensemble cast that includes Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza González, LaKeith Stanfield, Will Poulter, Don Cheadle, and Demi Moore.

The film premiered at the 2026 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival on March 12, 2026, and was released theatrically in the United States by Neon on May 22. It received positive reviews from critics. I Love Boosters is a wildly ambitious, anti-capitalist surrealist comedy directed by Boots Riley. Starring Keke Palmer, the film follows a crew of resourceful shoplifters—the “Velvet Gang”—who steal high-end designer clothes and resell them at affordable prices, evolving into an inventive, madcap protest against fashion industry exploitation.

Maximalist Style: Critics widely praise the film’s pop-art aesthetic, vibrant colors, and dynamic production design. Killer Cast: Reviewers single out Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, and Taylour Paige for their charismatic, lived-in chemistry as the shoplifting trio. Demi Moore also shines as a comically tyrannical, out-of-touch fashion mogul. Radical Message: True to Riley’s trademark style, the movie blends heavy socioeconomic themes (labor exploitation and the necessity of unions) with highly energetic, cartoonish magic realism.

The star of this movie: Keke Palmer was so nice to talk to all of us, and pose for a group photo with us: she is in the below photo- 2nd from the right in the photo- next to me- Steve, with Matt on the left of the photo, and Margie 2nd from left: Cine Gear Expo is the premier event for thousands of professionals from all corners of the globe, who are engaged in the film and entertainment technology industry. Cine Gear featured over 300 exhibits, workshops, panel discussions, masterclasses, product demonstrations, virtual reality technologies, insights from industry experts, cinematographers, visual effects artists, and producers; new product and service introductions, complimentary seminars led by industry leaders, and ample opportunity to network with peers, all within an exciting studio environment. Cine Gear had everything you need to produce and distribute Motion Pictures, Films, Movies, Docs, Shorts, and TV shows. With booths, and tables- both outdoors and inside of the warehouses and movie studio stages, with large broadcast, movie, film, video and still cameras; filming gear, editing, video and audio equipment, mics, lighting, rigs, storage devices, and just about every accessory, part, add on, and expendable that you could ever need for your next production was there! All the major studios, reps, and equipment companies were there! This was a must event for anybody who is somebody in the Entertainment Business!

As in past years the PRE- CINE GEAR EXPO PARTY was held at FilmTools in Burbank, the day before The Cine Gear Expo opened up. FilmTools is very close to Universal Studios. Film Tools had camera, sound, video, and storage equipment, and all the additional accessories you can ever need for your next filming project. Film tools is committed to providing you with the latest tools to create stunning images. They carry cameras for a wide variety of creatives, from professionals shooting high-resolution RAW footage to hobbyists wanting to strap an action camera to a helmet. Film tools is your camera house shipping film-making supplies worldwide, and when you shop with them, anyone is a filmmaker or photographer. They provide cameras that they believe will best benefit videographers, content creators, independent filmmakers, and photographers. 

There was feature hands-on exhibits and demonstrations from leading companies including ARRI, Aputure, Astera, Blackmagic Design, Cartoni (in above photo), Creative Solutions, Fujifilm, RED, Leitz Cine, Nanlux, Matthews, Sony, Tiffen, and Zeiss, to name just a few. Visitors were able to get up close and personal with cutting-edge developments in camera, optics, lighting, as well as breakthroughs in virtual production, AI-assisted workflows, and sustainable filmmaking practices.